How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife Analysis?

A. Author:

MANUEL ESTABILLO ARGUILLA
* Born: June 17, 1911 in Nagrebcan, Buang, La Union
* was an Ilocano writer in English, patriot, and martyr
* is the 4th son of Crisanto Arguilla a farmer and Margarita Estabillo a potter * finished his elementary school in his hometown and high school in San Fernando * he is also an athlete where he became champion in swimming events he joined * entered the University of the Philippines where he joined the writers club and later became the president and editor of the UP Literary Apprentce * finished Education in 1933

* he married Lydia Villanueva , a fellow artist and writer and lived in Ermita, Manila * He was captured by the Japanese in 1944 and was imprisoned in Fort Santiago together with his family. His family was later freed but Manuel was sentenced to death. * He was executed on October 1944 at age of 33.

B. Time and Milieu : during 1940

C. Definition of Terms:
Short Story : is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format.

D. Vocabulary:

* Ca -> title given in respect to somebody who is older * Carretela -> horse-drawn vehicle / carriage
* Camino Real -> the main road
* Lacay -> an Ilocano title of respect to an elderly man * Cud ->
a wad of something chewable as tobacco
* Daintily -> in a delicate manner
* Glistened -> a sparkling , lustrous shine
* Hitch -> to fasten or catch temporarily with or as if with a loop or hook

II. STORY PROPER :

A. Setting : Nagrebcan – a rural place

B. Characters:
* MARIA – the beautiful and stunning wife of Leon from Manila * BALDO – he is the younger brother of Leon
* the one who fetched Maria and Leon from the road to Nagrebcan * LEON – sometimes called as Noel because of his looks
* he is the older brother of Baldo who studied in Manila
* the lovable husband of Maria
* LABANG – the Bull whom Baldo consider as his pet

C. SUMMARY :

The story starts with Baldo meeting Leon and Maria and how he took them on a ride home through the fields near their home on a cart pulled by their family bull. The story describes the smell, look and feel of the fields and the surrounding areas and speaks well of Maria, describing her as gentle and full of laughter. It becomes apparent that Leon is taking Maria to meet his family for the first time, and she is nervous about meeting them, his father especially.

As the story continues Baldo, Leon (who is called Noel in the story as this is Maria’s nickname for him, Baldo presumes that this is because Noel is Leon backwards) and Maria all arrive at the family home. The story ends with the three of them entering the father’s room upstairs and they begin talking to him.